The Church of the Advocate is dedicated to serving the homeless, the vulnerable, and the street people of Asheville and Buncombe County. All are welcome to attend, regardless of your station in life.

Worship at the Advocate is Episcopal in nature and yet has an informal style. Participants sit in a circle which extends from the Altar. After the Gospel is read, the officiant leads the reflection. All participants are then welcome to share their reflections. Music and healing prayer are offered during the Eucharist which is shared inside the circle, the worship room and then taken outside to all on the street. The Church of the Advocate was founded December 24, 1997 as an outreach program of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina sponsored by the Cathedral of All Souls. Today, the Advocate is a formal worshipping community in partnership with the Cathedral, Trinity Church, and all the parishes of the Diocese.

In addition to our regular Sunday worship services, our church directs an informal bible study Mondays at 10:00 am in Trinity's undercroft, followed by a hot breakfast. Healing Prayer is offered from 11:00-11:30 am every Thursday at AHOPE. With the generous help of various parishes and organizations throughout Asheville and Buncombe County, the Church of the Advocate provides hot meals for 120-150 persons each week as well as fully stocking a "clothes closet" (where persons in need can find a fresh change of clothing) and a nurse's station that provides medical emergency advice and makes available over-the-counter medicines at no charge.

Last November, a dozen volunteers from our church traveled to Mississippi to assist in post-Katrina reconstruction efforts as a service project of the Diocesce. Working for nearly a week, we rebuilt homes, painted, cleaned up debris, and helped our less fortunate brothers and sisters cope with the damages and devastating loss that still exists more than five years after that terrible hurricane. Click on the photo to the right to see pictures from our trip.

At our Annual Christmas Party, held on December 20, we coordinated nearly 175 meals and gift bags of brand new sweaters, gloves, hats, shoes, boots, toiletries, candy, and toys for children who would otherwise have done without. It was a wonderful day: filled with joy, hope, and the spirit of the season. Click on the photo above for a gallery of pictures from the party.

For more information, please contact the Rev. Hamilton (Ham) Fuller at (828) 243-3932 or by email at hamfuller@aol.com

Site design and Christmas gallery photography by Michael Muller